Abstract:
Combined low-dose radon/hyperthermia therapy has been reported to improve pain and mobility in patients with rheumatic disorders. The key feature of inflammatory rheumatic diseases is the induction of autoimmune processes via the production of autoantibodies. As reducing the autoantibody level through administration of biologicals is described to correlate with delay of disease progression, we investigated the impact of combined low-dose radon/hyperthermia therapy on the serum levels of antibodies directed against cyclic citrullinated peptides in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. We found that levels of circulating anti-CCP antibodies is significantly reduced immediately after a 3 weeks of radon therapy regimen.

Abstract:
Background: Ankylosing spondylitis is rare in sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of our study was to report cases of AS in a black African population and to see the influence of gender. Method: It was a retrospective study conducted in the Rheumatology Department of Ouagadougou University Hospital, Ouagadougou, from March 2006 to February 28, 2015 for a period of nine years. All the patients who went under a rheumatology consultation during the study period were included. Patients with AS defined by the modified New York criteria were selected. Result: Forty-eight (0.61%) cases of AS were diagnosed among 7806 patients received in the rheumatology department during the study period. The search for the HLA B27 antigen in 20 patients was positive in 11 (55%). Half of the patients (50%) had a BASDAI score ≥ 4. Sacroiliitis was observed in all patients; it was stage 4 in 8 patients. Comparing by sex, there was no statistically significant difference by gender. Conclusion: Prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis increases. The presentation is similar to that of the caucasian series.

Abstract:
Objectives: The assessment of the radio clinical results of sixty one total hip arthroplasties was performed among young and active patients, with follow-up for ankylosing spondylitis, in order to evaluate the effect of surgery on the quality of life of these patients. Methods: For the functional improvement of the patients, we relied on the scores of Devane, Harris and that of Postel Merle d’Aubeigné. The radiological analysis was based on the coxometry. Results: The study confirms the notable functional gain and consequently the improvement of the quality of life of the patients. However, the longevity of the implants remains difficult to envisage due to our limited and insufficient hindsight. Conclusion: The total hip arthroplasty transforms the life of the young patients’ carriers of the disabling coxitis on the stiffening spondylarthritis, by getting them the laziness and the mobility wished for.

Abstract:
purpose: to describe shoulder involvement and its prevalence with ultrasound in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and correlate the findings with age and duration of disease. methods: ultrasound scans of both shoulders were performed in thirty five selected patients with clinical diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis. rotator cuff texture and thickness were evaluated as well as the biceps tendon, acromioclavicular joint, humeral head tuberosities, subacromial-subdeltoid bursa, and posterior glenohumeral joint. besides the prevalence of shoulder involvement, information about presence of pain and duration of disease were registered. the data were compared with age and duration of disease using chi-square and student's t tests. results: the prevalence of rotator cuff disease was 20%; with 10% of tendinosis/tendon calcification and 10% of partial/full thickness tears. the mean rotator cuff thickness was 5.8 mm. irregularities of the humeral head tuberosities were present in 84.3% of shoulders and acromioclavicular irregularities were present in 54.3% of shoulders. conclusion: there was no change in rotator cuff thickness related with duration of disease. bony irregularities in humeral head tuberosities and acromioclavicular joint were the main finding associated with duration of disease. there was no relation between duration of disease and presence of tendinous disease.

Abstract:
cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic disease caused by a protozoan called cryptosporidium sp. an increased number of diagnoses were made in the last 20 years, especially in patients with immunodeficiency like the acquired human immunodeficiency syndrome and induced immunodeficiency, such as in transplant patients and those who need frequent hemodialysis, has been observed. we report the case of a young patient with ankylosing spondylitis treated with adalimumab who developed chronic diarrhea secondary to cryptosporidiosis

Abstract:
Coexistence of acromegaly and anklosing spondylitis had been rarelyreported. Only two case reports were described coexistence of two diseasesin literature. These two diseases have some similar clinical andradiographic features. Calcaneal epin formation, enteshopathy and caudeequina syndrome can be seen both acromegaly and ankylosing spondylitis.Our case had clinical and radiological features of both acromegaly andankylosing spondylitis. Acral enlargement, coarsening of feature,malocclusion, non-suppressed growth hormone levels with oral glucosetolerance test and evidence of pituitary adenoma were support diagnose ofacromegaly. Morning stiffness, positive Schober and Moll test, elevatederythrocyte sedimentation rate and grade 4 sacroiletis of the patient lead usto diagnose ankylosing spondylitis at the same time. In this case report, weaim to discuss interesting coexistence of two disease

Abstract:
Multiple sclerosis and ankylosing spondylitis are two autoimmune diseases in which genetic and environmental factors play an important role in the etiopathogenesis. It has been shown in various studies that multiple sclerosis may be associated with various autoimmune pathological conditions such as thyroid disease and pernicious anemia. Moreover, other rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus have been reported to be associated with multiple sclerosis. Also concomitant ankylosing spondylitis patients have been observed among reports in the medical literature. In this case report, a male patient, 39 years old, who was diagnosed as having ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis has been presented. The etiology and therapy approaches of the concomitance of ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis were discussed in the light of clinical findings of the case.

Abstract:
Spondylodiscitis is a well recognized but uncommon complication of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). It usually occurs in advanced stages of AS. The clinical presentation of spondylodiscitis may vary from asymptomatic to symptoms of serious spinal cord injury. Here we presented a case with chronic low back pain who was not diagnosed as AS earlier and who had wide-spread spondylodiscitis when diagnosed. Turk J Phys Med Rehab 2008;54:77-8

Abstract:
Objective: Osteoporosis is a common complication of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). There is no avaible data for the indications of bone mineral density (BMD) measurement related to osteoporosis diagnosis at AS patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between Bath indexes and BMD in patients with AS.Materials and Methods: 45 male AS patients (mean age: 46.96±13.58 years) and 41 healthy male controls (mean age: 48.93±6.86 years) were enrolled in the study. Patients with AS were evaluated with Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) and Bath Ankylosing spondylitis Radiology Index (BASRI). The BMD of AS and control group patients were assessed at hip (femoral neck, Ward’s triangle and femur trochanter) and lumbar area.Results: We have found a significant difference at the femoral ward triangle and lomber spine BMD and T scores in favour of AS patients (p<0.05). BASMI scores were negatively correlated with femoral neck and femoral ward triangle (p<0.05). BASDAI, BASFI scores were not correlated with BMD and T scores of any measured regions.Conclusion: We found that femur ward triangle may be appropriate to evaluate bone loss in patients with AS. BASMI score is a useful tool to determine BMD in patients with AS.

Abstract:
Background: In ankylosing spondylitis (AS), the spine with osteoporotic changes is fragileand vulnerable to trauma. Patients may develop spinal pseudoarthrosis (SP),whose clinical features are usually misdiagnosed as a tuberculous infection.This study reports our experience with surgical treatment for SP in AS.Methods: Eight patients with AS and SP at the thoracolumbar area were treated surgicallyand followed-up for at least 3 years. All had persistent back pain andprogressive kyphosis. One patient had neurologic deficits preoperatively.Anterior debridement and interbody fusion followed by posterior stabilizationwere performed in all patients. A posterior corrective osteotomy wasadditionally done in 3 patients whose kyphotic angle exceeded 45°.Results: All patients with persistent back pain obtained significant pain relief postoperatively.On a visual analogue scale, there was an average improvement of43 points on the clinical scores. The patient with neurologic deficits showedimprovement after the operation. Solid bony fusion was achieved in an averageof 7.5 months, and correction of the kyphotic angle averaged 18.6°.Conclusions: Spinal pseudoarthrosis should be considered in patients with AS, and mustbe differentiated from tuberculous and other infections. The results of thisstudy show that pain relief and correction of the kyphotic deformity can beachieved by surgical treatment for ankylosing spondylitis complicated withpseudoarthrosis.